Children's Festival of the Arts takes over Main Street and features a variety of activity booths with hands-on art projects, entertainment, music, demonstrations by local artists, and student exhibit. SAVE THE DATE: November 3, 2018

The City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department operates and maintains the Yuma Art Center, which features the 643 seats Historic Yuma Theatre.

About the Yuma Art Center

Our vision is for all members of our community to live creative lives by being a part of the arts in Yuma.

The City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department manages the Yuma Art Center in Historic Downtown Yuma. The Yuma Art Center advances the arts by providing distinct opportunities for community participation and artistic growth. With over 100,000 visitors each year, the Yuma Art Center annually produces several theatre productions, over twenty visual art exhibitions, holds nearly fifty unique performing and visual arts classes, facilitates the annual summer mural program, screens dozens of films, supports the North End Artists Cooperative, coordinates festivals and special events, and advances public art throughout Yuma. Advocacy is strengthened through the City of Yuma Parks, Arts and Culture Commission as well as the Ad-Hoc Public Art Committee.

Yuma Art Center's signature events include:

Battle of the Bands: September 22, 2018 in the Historic Yuma TheatreYumaCon: October 6, 2018 at the Yuma Civic CenterTribute of the Muses: October 12, 2018 in the Yuma Art Center and Historic Yuma TheatreRocky Horror Picture Show Midnight Madness: October 27, 2018 at 11:59pm at the Historic Yuma TheatreChildren's Festival of the Arts: November 3, 2018 on Historic Main StreetNorth End Art Walk: November 16, 2018 on Historic Main StreetArt in the Park: January 12, 2019 in Gateway ParkDinner Theatre: February 13-17, 2019 in the Yuma Art CenterARTbeat: April 20, 2019 on Historic Main Street

Yuma Art Center features:

The 643 seat Historic Yuma Theatre which dates to 1912

The restored United Building featuring the North End Artists Cooperative

Four Visual Art Galleries

Multipurpose Classrooms and Artist Studios

Pottery Studio

Artisan Gift Shop

Black and White Photography Darkroom

Host your event at the Yuma Art Center

The Yuma Art Center is a great place to get creative and is a unique place to host your special event! Check out our rental information and Arty Party packages below.

MOMO Artist Residency: February 2018

The Yuma Art Center has a new look thanks to MOMO and his crew of Lynnea Holland-Weiss and Dan Bortz who created this large-scale mural on the building's back, west-facing wall. MOMO specializes in creating artpieces in public spaces, using handmade tools to design and install murals. His works can be seen worldwide and are notably in the Miami Dolphin Stadium, Facebook Headquarters in San Franciso and in Sydney, Australia.

The mural proposal, shown in the photo, was approved by the City's Design and Historic Review Commission; the Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission; and the Ad-Hoc Public Art Committee. The artwork was privately funded by the McKivergan family, and the artist's residency was also supported by the Historic Coronado Hotel, LG Paint and Sun Rentals.

In addition to the commissioned mural, Momo created 11 additional works of art around Yuma identified in this brochure.

In the Galleries

Pawblo Pawcasso: An Animal Art ExperienceExhibit Date: August 7 - August 11Wednesday through Saturday 10:00 am to 8:00 pmReception: Friday, August 10th at 6pm to 8pm

The Yuma Art Center and Humane Society of Yuma proudly present: Pawblo Pawcasso: An Animal Art Experience at the Pet-ropolitan Museum of Art! This unique dog-friendly exhibition will feature artwork just for canines, pet photography and a silent art auction to benefit the Humane Society of Yuma.

The exhibit is open for a limited run from August 7 - August 11 from 10am to 8pm. Leashed dogs are welcome to attend with their family throughout the week.A public reception will take place Friday, August 10 at 6pm with the silent auction closing at 8pm.

Psychedelic Sweets

Exhibit Date: August 17 - October 13Wednesday through Saturday 10:00 am to 8:00 pmReception: Friday, August 24th at 6pm to 8pm

Join us for the opening reception of a new gallery exhibition entitled, "Psychedelic Sweets."

The exhibit features handmade neon signs by Scott Leinbach in the Central Gallery, paintings by Tania Bolin in the West Gallery, and the North and South Galleries feature works by Yulissa Aladana, Mea Flores, Ambar Munoz, Judy Phillips, Linda Willets and, Nancy Worden.Free to attend and open to the public.

Light hor dourves provided. Cash or credit bar.

Call for Community Input

2018 Tribute of the Muses Award Nominations

The Tribute of the Muses Award is presented by the City of Yuma during the annual awards ceremony and celebration on October 12, 2018 at the Yuma Art Center. The honoree of this distinguished award recognizes an outstanding member of Yuma’s arts community who has shown exemplary devotion and excellence in the arts. Nominees may reflect acknowledged excellence in a chosen arts field, arts advocacy, philanthropy and/or arts education. Please note that nominees should have a minimum of 5 years of arts recognition in Yuma. City of Yuma's Parks and Recreation employees are not eligible to be nominated.

2018 Helios Award Nominations

The Helios Award is presented as part of the Tribute of the Muses annual arts celebration on October 12, 2018. Presented by the City of Yuma to an individual who is a recognized, up and coming voice within the Yuma arts community. Whether an artist, advocate or supporter of the arts, nominees can represent the visual arts, music, dance, theatre, and/or arts philanthropy. Please note that City of Yuma's Parks and Recreation employees are not eligible to be nominated.

Call to Artists and Vendors

Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex Sculpture Walk

Application Deadline: OngoingEligiblity: All national and international artists who are 18 years of age or older are eliglbe to apply.Description: The City of Yuma’s Ad Hoc Public Art Committee is seeking to purchase multiple sculptures for a permanent sculpture walk at the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex (PAAC). This new facility is a state-of-the-art softball complex with six fields and is used for local, regional, and national softball tournaments. Since opening on September 1st, 2017 the complex has had over 50,000 visitors.

Tribute of the Muses Art Award

Application Deadline: September 5, 2018Applicants Notified: September 14, 2018Selected Artwork Due: October 3, 2018Event Date: October 12, 2018Award Budget: $400 Description: The desired commissioned artwork will be presented to the 2018 honoree of the Tribute of the Muses Award. Now in its 18th year, the award honors an outstanding member of Yuma’s arts community who has shown exemplary devotion and excellence in the arts. Its name references Greek mythology, as the nine daughters of Zeus – the Muses – were considered to be the inspiration for nine specific aspects of the arts and science, including poetry, dance, music, etc.

Criteria for selection: The proposed piece can currently exist in the applicant’s inventory or the applicant may submit a detailed rendering of a new work. Artwork proposed must include professional presentation complete with framing or a base as necessary. Please take into consideration that ta 1.4 inch by 3 inch plaque with the name of the awardee and the works “Tribute of the Muses Award 2018” will be attached to the base or frame of the selection piece. The selection will be made by the City of Yuma’s Ad Hoc Public Art Committee. All applicants must by 18 years or older and a resident of Yuma County, Arizona. Artwork must be of original idea and assembly. City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Employees are not eligible for consideration.

YumaCon

Application Deadline: September 7, 2018Event Date: October 6, 2018Location: Yuma Civic CenterFees: $25-110Description: YumaCon is Yuma's premier Comic Convention which is now in its 4th year and has an annual attendance of over 2,000 people. Attendees are invited to bring out their inner geek and cosplay as their favorite character, meet new friends and talk with special guests. The convention features a tabletop game room, a vendor gallery, panel presentations and concludes with an extra special masquerade competition.

Description: The Yuma Art Center invites artists from throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico for this all-media juried art show. Artists are encouraged to enter artwork inany media. The exhibition is open to all visual media, including but not limited, to the following: ceramic, drawing, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed-media, painting, paper, photography, printmaking, and wood. Prizesinclude: first place, $1,000; second place, $650; third place, $350. Additional purchase prizes are expected.

Description: Children's Festival of the Arts is a fun, family friendly festival and that is supported by dozens of local organizations and art education supporters. Now in its 26th year, the festival takes over Main Street with nearly 50 arts and crafts booths full of make and take projects for attendees. All activity booths are free for attendees.

North End Art WalkApplication Deadline: November 14, 2018 Event Date: November 16, 2018Application Fee: FREE Description: The North End Art Walk strolls back into Historic Downtown Yuma for a fun and eclectic evening of local Yuma artists! The event is a wonderful opportunity for patrons to visit downtown merchants and mingle with artists as they exhibit their works all along MainStreet.

Application Deadline: November 20, 2018Event Date: December 8, 2018Application and Table Fee: $15Description: Deck the walls with art this holiday season and give the gift of handmade art! Located in the galleries of the Yuma Art Center, the bazaar will feature area artists who will have unique giftables and custom artwork available for purchase. From ceramics to jewelry, you are sure to find something special for everyone on your gift list.

Art in the ParkEarly Bird Deadline: November 1, 2018Application Deadline: December 14, 2018Event Date: January 12, 2019Application and Booth Fees: $25-125 Description: Art in the Park is an alfresco fine arts festival in Yuma’s scenic Gateway Park. Modeled after Georges Seurat’s stoic painting, “Sunday on La Grande Jatte,” Art in the Park features local and regional artists alongside the banks of the meandering Colorado River. Join us for a leisure afternoon in the park and partake in a mimosa or glass of wine while you peruse a wide variety of art displays and chat with artists.

ARTbeat 12Early Bird Deadline: February 1, 2019Deadline for Applications: March 1, 2019Event Date: April 20, 2019Application and Booth Fees: $25-125 Description: ARTbeat is an award winning juried fine arts festival that fills Historic Downtown Yuma with art. Celebrating its 11th year, this festival is named for our favorite news beat and is annually attended by thousands of visitors. Cash prizes and awards totaling over $1,500 are presented by the Yuma Art Center.

Prospective Gallery Artists: The Yuma Art Center proudly presents works by local to international artists in all media. Exhibitions are selected, coordinated and curated by the Division of Arts and Culture. For consideration, please send your contact information, artist statement about the work you propose to exhibit, artistic resume, and four high resolution images of your work (Jpegs preferred) to Arts@YumaAz.gov with the subject line “Prospective Artist.” Please note that exhibitions are coordinated many months and often years in advance. Both emerging and professional artists are encouraged to submit proposals.

Prospective Gift Shop Artists: For inquiries about presenting artwork in the gift shop please contact the Yuma Art Center at 928-373-5202 or Arts@YumaAz.gov. Prior to presentation artists are met with and work is reviewed by appointment only. No walk-ins please. Please note that all artwork must be display ready (wired/framed/etc.) before consideration.